Safety checks for all British ferries
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE Government yesterday ordered safety checks on the bow doors of all British ferries after video footage of the wreck of the Estonia indicated that her 60-ton bow door was ripped off after the locks failed during a storm.
The pictures prompted Sweden and Finland to announce that the bow doors on some of their ferries were to be welded shut. But British ferry operators are resisting moves to follow suit on cross- Channel and Irish Sea ferries.
However, it emerged yesterday that two P&O car ferries operating between Aberdeen and the Shetland Islands have had their bow doors welded to their hulls for at least two years because of safety worries. The St Clair and the St Sunnival had had problems with watertight seals, according to Captain Frank Duffin, chief surveyor of the Aberdeen office of the Marine Safety Agency.
The International Maritime Organisation has set up a panel of experts to review the safety of bow doors on ferries.
'Everything is on the table,' William O'Neil, secretary-general of the IMO, said yesterday.
'We will be looking into the safety of bow doors, the possibility of having walls or bulkheads installed on car decks, improvements to life- saving equipment and guidelines on the use of ferries in bad weather. We also want to ensure multinational crews can communicate with passengers.'
Ferries' future, page 9
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments